04.08.2025
Employee Spotlight! CAMRIS Senior Laboratory Manager Anne Fraser
We recently spoke with Anne Fraser, CAMRIS Senior Laboratory Manager, about her work supporting the Naval Health Research Center’s Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) Directorate in San Diego, CA. In this interview, Anne discusses her role and how OID advances military medicine, what sparked her interest in laboratory science and research, and more.
CAMRIS: Please describe your role at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) and how OID advances military medicine.
Anne: I serve as the Sr. Laboratory Manager at the Naval Health Research Center – Operational Infectious Diseases directorate. I oversee laboratory operations at a programmatic level, which include biosurveillance efforts for infectious diseases impacting military populations of interest, supporting pre-clinical and clinical trials for medical device evaluations, and maintaining regulatory accreditations for diagnostic testing capabilities in support of military health. I oversee and mentor a team of multifaceted personnel that include laboratory supervisors and testing, operations, health and safety, and quality personnel. My role requires careful management of resources and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to support new and ongoing laboratory initiatives.
CAMRIS: What drove your career interest in laboratory science and research, and how have your experiences prepared you for your current role in support of the US Navy?
Anne: Both sides of my family come from a Navy background, and I grew up being familiar with the DoD. My mother was also a nurse, and I was raised hearing really interesting dinner-table stories that both snagged my interest in health care and made me realize that direct patient care was not for me. My undergraduate work was initially directed towards pre-pharmacy, but through classes and internships, I learned that it was not a specialty I was particularly interested in. Three years into my major, I had a classmate whose parent was a clinical laboratory scientist in a major local hospital and was willing to give me some insight into what that meant. I recall looking into a microscope for the first time at a urinalysis sample and just being absolutely hooked on the puzzle-solving aspect this career offers. I made the change in disciplines and haven’t looked back since. After graduating and passing my licensing exam, I went into molecular diagnostics, taking on additional roles in education, quality, and operational management throughout my career in biotech. When a recruiter for this position contacted me, I saw it was an opportunity to apply all of my various fields of professional knowledge in the Navy environment that I grew up in. It’s been rewarding to have both my personal and professional backgrounds overlap in this role.
CAMRIS: Quality assurance and regulatory compliance are critical in laboratory operations. How do you ensure that all laboratory sections within the OID Directorate meet these high standards?
Anne: Having a strong but flexible quality management system is the backbone for setting and communicating expectations under which all work will be performed. In addition to creating a solid framework, I strongly believe fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement is one of the most impactful things a leadership team can do to ensure the widespread adoption of high-quality standards. It’s one I strive towards every day for myself and my team.
CAMRIS: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Anne: There are many opportunities to make impactful changes in this role. From mentoring employees in their professional growth and development to implementing novel or more efficient applications of laboratory operations, there is never a dull moment in this position. I enjoy the challenges it presents and the ability to offer customers and stakeholders actionable data.
CAMRIS: What defines you when you are not advancing laboratory science and research projects?
Anne: I have family and friends that I love spending quality time with, and many hobbies that I enjoy. The best is when I can combine both, from teaching my daughter how to strategically play board games to spending a day in the water at the beach with my partner and close group of friends.